Superintendent Ebert Celebrates Legislation that Supports Student and Educator Success

CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Nevada Department of Education celebrates the passage of several bills during the 81^st (2021) Legislative Session that will have long-term, positive impacts for Nevada’s students, educators, and families.

“This was a historic Session for education in Nevada, and we celebrate the great strides that Governor Sisolak and the Legislature have made in prioritizing equity and opportunity for our students,” said Superintendent Ebert. “With bills that include a long-awaited overhaul of Nevada’s 54-year-old education funding formula and supports for social emotional learning, we are grateful for a number of initiatives that are continuing to move our education system forward."

Bills highlighted by the Nevada Department of Education include:

Senate Bill 439 enacts Nevada’s new K-12 education funding formula, the Pupil-Centered Funding Plan (PCFP). The PCFP is a brand-new approach to funding K-12 education in Nevada that will replace the 54-year-old Nevada Plan. The PFCP prioritizes equity in the way funds are allocated for Nevada students, ensuring all students are provided with a base level of resources, with a greater level of support available to students who need it.

Assembly Bill 67 increases student access to restorative justice practices in schools. Nevada’s shift to restorative practices recognizes ongoing efforts to create equitable systems where the norm is teaching positive behaviors, repairing relationships, and increasing accountability through reversing harm. Restorative practices have shown positive outcomes in decreasing the disproportionality of students of color being suspended or expelled, which means they are spending more time in classrooms learning.

Senate Bill 215 requires district and charter school governing bodies to develop and present plans for distance education, as part of future-proofing our education system. District and charter schools must also develop and implement a plan to make the necessary technology available for certain pupils and school employees. The bill was sponsored by Senator Mo Denis, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and developed based on the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission for a Globally Prepared Nevada.

Senate Bill 173 authorizes school districts and the State Public Charter School Authority to submit summer school plans to the Department of Education that address learning loss due to COVID-19. These summer school programs will support students most at risk for learning loss.

Assembly Bill 38 revises provisions relating to career and technical education (CTE) and work-based learning. The bill reduces the burden on Nevada’s school districts and provides more flexibility for each district to engage stakeholders to implement and improve their CTE programs.

Senate Bill 36 updates school emergency response plans to crises, emergencies, and suicides. The bill adds at least one representative of the District or County Board of Health to the school district committee which develops the crises plan used by public schools. Additionally, in response to COVID-19, it expands the definition of an outbreak of disease to include an epidemic.

Assembly Bill 417 was brought forth by the Nevada Department of Education and revises provisions related to school buses that will result in improved safety for Nevada students. This bill provides that school bus inspections will be completed on an annual basis and adds language regarding re-inspection of vehicles. 

Assembly Bill 19 updates social studies subjects to include civics, financial literacy, and multicultural education. It also maintains the standards adoption, process but removes the requirement of codifying standards in regulations to ensure a streamlined adoption of updated standards.